What equipment will I need for dive training? What is required, what is provided, why, and what will it cost?
Most Open Water Diver courses require a student to purchase a mask, snorkel, fins, and booties. Some Instructors and Dive Shops, me included, also strongly recommend a student purchase their own wetsuit or other appropriate exposure protection. However, most instructors and dive shops provide a full SCUBA unit as part of the Open Water Diver course. Why is this? Why are you required to purchase some items but provided others as part of the course fees? What does each of these things do?
Masks, snorkels, and fins are familiar items to most people. You can purchase them in Wal-Mart and other retailers for very low prices. However, the types of these items sold at most retailers not focused on diving are not dive quality items. What is dive quality? As a diver, you are spending time underwater. At times, you need to make adjustments to your equipment underwater. Many of these adjustments are rehearsed in training. If you have dive quality equipment, these adjustments typically require little effort, and with proper training, become second nature. However, if you don’t have dive quality equipment, these tasks can become much more difficult or maybe not even possible. This doesn’t mean the equipment is of poor quality, it simply means it is not designed for the requirements of a Scuba Diver. The types of these items many non-diving retailers sell are not suitable to diving because they are not designed with a Scuba Diver in mind. They are designed more for a snorkeler, who has significantly different needs from them than a diver does. And, in some cases, the items don’t even really meet the demands of a serious snorkeler. They are designed more for a swimmer or child playing at the beach.
What are booties? Aren’t they those things that I wear with my pajamas? Booties are essentially aquatic shoes. They serve two main purposes. First, they protect your feet and ankles from any friction with your fins. Have you ever worn shoes without socks? Doesn’t that suck after awhile? Secondly, they can also add to your exposure protection (more on that in a bit). When you are diving from shore, they can also lend support and protection to your feet and ankles while walking, just like shoes do.
So, why are a mask, snorkel, fins, and pair of booties not provided to you with the rest of the Scuba gear you are provided as part of an Open Water Diver course? It is important that each of these items properly fit the individual. It is also important that you become very familiar and comfortable with each of these items. With that in mind, an individual purchasing their own set is the only good alternative.
Exposure protection is anything that helps keep you warm in the water. Water will cool your body down much quicker than air of the same temperature. In some cases, this doesn’t matter. If you are diving in 90 degree water for 30 minutes, you may not require any exposure protection. But, most people require at least some to ensure they stay warm. Exposure protection can also protect your skin from scrapes, stings, and other things nobody likes. So, what is appropriate exposure protection? Basically, whatever it takes to make sure you stay warm and your skin is protected from whatever it needs to be. This is covered much more in depth (pun totally intended!) in your Open Water Diver training.
Why do I strongly encourage a diver to purchase their own wetsuit/exposure protection? The first reason is fit. A comfortable student is a learning student and a comfortable diver is a happy diver. Nobody wants something too large or small on them and you can’t really concentrate either. Another big reason is…well, let me just say that I have known of divers who had trouble controlling their bladder on a dive… I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be renting anything someone did that in, no matter how well it was rinsed out afterwards…
How much do these items cost? As with anything else, it totally depends on what you choose to purchase and where you buy it from. I have seen good quality masks for $70 or $80 and poor quality masks for $120.I’ve seen $20 snorkels and I’ve seen $120 snorkels. I suggest you wait on purchasing these items until you start training with me. I can guide you through your purchase decisions and ensure you get what you want for a fair price. I have arrangements with the top dive shops in the area to get you the best possible deals on the best possible gear.
What about that other stuff, the SCUBA gear that is provided in training? What does that consist of? Can you buy your own instead of using what is provided to you? A SCUBA unit consists of a 2 stage regulator that you breathe from. That is connected to a tank that provides the air you will breathe. Holding that tank is a Buoyancy Control Device that you wear on your body. In order to know how deep you are, how long you have been down, how much air you have left, and other stuff you need to know there are also various gauges, consoles, computers, and other gadgets that can be attached. This is all a very simplified explanation. This is covered deeply (once again, pun totally intended!) in your Open Water Diver course. These items are not nearly as personal to a diver as the personal snorkeling gear that is required for purchase, so we are able to rent this equipment to students and certified divers. In most cases, that rental rate is included in your course fees so you aren’t even aware of it. It just comes with the class. There is nothing that says you can’t buy some, or all, of the SCUBA equipment you need and train with it in class. In fact, I strongly encourage it. What better way can you think of for learning how to dive than in your own personal gear, from head to toe? If you are interested in that, let me know, and I can guide you through the options. Each item can be purchased separately or you can buy a complete unit. Many divers buy one piece at a time, as they have money, and many others buy an entire unit all at once. The choice is up to you, your goals, and your budget.
Have more questions about the gear you will need to purchase or will be using in class? Contact me and I will answer all of them!
Dave
